AFTER the fall of only four wickets on the first day, bowlers took their revenge on the second, claiming 18. Eight of those fell before lunch, when Surrey collapsed, but their total of 370 was shown to be comfortably above par when Leicestershire came to bat.

Surrey’s substantial lead has put them in a match-winning position, but the day really belonged to Stuart Broad. In his ninth championship appearance, the 6ft 6in fast bowler claimed a maiden five-wicket haul, all but one of his victims being top-order batsmen.

Yesterday, those included Mark Butcher, who was beaten by an inswinger after being caught on the crease, and Rikki Clarke, who edged one that left him to third slip.

Both Geoff Miller and David Graveney were at Grace Road yesterday to check on the likes of Broad and Clarke. Neither selector was aware that Broad, 19, had not only grown two inches over the winter but also that the Loughborough University medical department believe he will end up 6ft 9in. He is such a good prospect that the effect on his back will have to be closely monitored.

Broad and Mohammad Asif were rewarded for bowling a fuller length than the day before, when Leicestershire’s attack pitched a little too short. That was not a mistake that Surrey’s pace bowlers committed in helpful conditions as they took five wickets in the first 29 overs.

But for a determined 87 from 181 balls from John Maunders, Leicestershire would not have reached their follow-on target. Maunders was ninth out when he swept Nayan Doshi to square leg. Broad underlined his capability with the bat by resisting 83 balls for his 24.